MuleLars wrote on May 16^th, 2013 at 8:58pm:


Good for you.......one of the chief dangers in Glacier is driving on "going to the sun road". The scenery is so jaw dropping spectacular that it is easy to lose your focus on the narrow road (I believe the road has been widened) so please be careful and watch for other folks as well.

Plan to take it very easy your first few days. You will likely experience some headaches initially and be out of breath rather easily. I would advocate not hiking much your first day or two and acclimating. Then when you do hike go very slowly and monitor your heart rate. I had to force myself to slow down even after 2 days of not doing a whole lot.......my heart was racing big time.

Glacier has the highest density of Grizzly in the lower 48 but it also has a very high blackie population. At one campground I had several fellows burst into my campsite proclaiming there was a bear approaching them at the community eating area. I asked what kind and when they said a black I chastised them for running away and proceeded to scare the blackie away. Why they came to get me I never did quite figure out.

I spent the maximum number of nights solo in the park that are allowed. I hiked through the desolate Kennedy river valley and up through RedGap pass where I came very close to being literally blown off the mountain. Scary stuff but I dropped down into Elizabeth lake after a rather traumatic emotionally draining experience via the wind being funneled through the pass. I hiked Glacier with a garden spade. Yup, a small headed shovel. The tapered handle and weighted head made for an ideal walking staff. The metal head clanged nicely against the rock and let the bears know I was coming. I mention the spade to help describe the wind in Redgap pass. I could hear the big gusts coming and would bow low and brace myself with the shovel. A few times I felt like the wind was going to pole vault me up and over and I had to fall to the ground.

Nights in Glacier are spooky to say the least, especially if you are alone at a campground. Become educated, sleep in designated clothing, avoid handling fish with your hands (cross contamination to clothing is inevitable if you do so). I used the orange fish grippers and forceps to release my fish. You do not want to become a fish in a bun (sleeping bag).

Fishing is awesome if you get to the right areas. I was in the Belly River valley and the scenery and fishing was awesome. I remember remarking out loud to myself that "it doesn't get any better than this". My guidebook remarked that the Belly River valley was some of the most beautiful country in North America......I doubted that claim until i went in. Very nice.

You must let the bruins know you are coming. I used a mouth blown boat horn and the occasional "hey Bear". Bells are ridiculous. Remember you cannot fly with spray.

If you want some advice on the fishing Tom I would be happy to oblige. You would need to know what species of trout you are targeting before I could offer helpful advice. Elizabeth lake has arctic grayling........they are the stupidest fish I have ever seen but very fun to catch.

At the entrance to the Park out of kalispell there is an eatery with the best blueberry pancakes I have ever eaten. I liked them so much I made it a point to eat them again on the way out and took a pic to remember the "experience".........yummy!

Please post your pics for us.........

I'd be a little concerned about flares/flare gun at certain times of the year.
If you accidentally set the woods on fire even if it was a life or death situation, I doubt very much the Forest Service would be understanding.

I've seen rounds for flare guns that they use to scare away birds from orchards.
Loud noise/flash but not sure they couldn't trigger a fire under the right conditions.?

mastertangler wrote on May 21^st, 2013 at 1:49am:


MT--We'll be based on the east side of the park (Many Glacier/Swiftcurrent), as you were. Not sure if we'll head up to RedGap, but we'll be in the big grizz zone anyway.

I know we can't fly with bear spray, but I understand there's an Army/Navy store near Kalispell that has low-priced bear spray. Can't wait for the trip!! If you come to the Madison Art Fair in July, we can catch up on our plans.

Either way, you can count on me posting pics when I get back!!

ML

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I'm all for saving a few bucks but make damn sure that low-priced bear spray is the real thing, not just military grade pepper spray like the police use?

Maybe they could ship whatever you buy to a UPS store or somewhere you could pick up when you get there?
I have 2 different makes. One is made in Alaska and used by their DNR people. The other is made
in the lower 48.

I'd get 2 cans and the chest holster for each of you. Not the cheapest, but in the worst case scenario, cheap isn't going to be much comfort.

I say 2, becasue in the event you have no time to react and the bear is mauling the person carrying the spray, the other can step in.

I'd also consider getting their bear fence for nighttime use?
Not cheap, but bears are active at night and more than a few people have been attacked and mauled/killed in their tents at night.

This guy has intimate first hand knowledge on being mauled by a bear. I'd let his lesson and those of others be your guide to what you should carry.

ALL the forestry people carry bear spray and most carry magnum handguns/rifles or shotguns in grizzly country.
They know the area and the bears better than most, so that should tell you something.

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  From UDAPS website:

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Roughly 4 lbs, split between 2 hikers isn't that big of deal.
Like pfd's/ comprehensive first aid kits/ SPOT devices etc, it's all about your personal comfort level.
I've always had the mindset of being ready for the worst but expecting the best.
So far it's served me well.

There are plenty of ways to get seriously injured/die on a wilderness trip.
Getting eaten by a bear or mauled and left for dead would be #1 on my list of bad ways to go.